Mission Success as Space Shuttle Atlantis Lands in California

Following a successful mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis landed successfully at 8:39 a.m. on Sunday.
Mission Success as Space Shuttle Atlantis Lands in California
Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24. (NASA/Carla Thomas)
Joshua Philipp
5/25/2009
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/NASAMissionSuccess.jpg" alt="Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24. (NASA/Carla Thomas)" title="Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24. (NASA/Carla Thomas)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1828161"/></a>
Atlantis and the crew of the STS-125 mission landed safely in California at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the Hubble Servicing Mission on Sunday, May 24. (NASA/Carla Thomas)
Following a successful mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis landed successfully at 8:39 a.m. on Sunday. This marks the last trip NASA will be making to Hubble before the Atlantis is put into retirement next year.

During the nearly 13-day Hubble servicing mission, astronauts aboard the Atlantis conducted five successful space walks to enhance the Hubble. A new lens that was installed will allow it to see further and more clearly. The astronauts also installed new batteries and pointing devices, and replaced parts in a broken instrument.

“This is not the end of the story but the beginning of another chapter of discovery by Hubble,” said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters in a press release. “Hubble will be more powerful than ever, continue to surprise, enlighten, and inspire us all and pave the way for the next generation of observatories.”

The tune-up of the 19-year-old telescope will improve its capabilities by as much as 70 times and will extend its lifetime to at least 2014, according to NASA. Hubble has made several ground-breaking discoveries during its time in orbit.

The satellite found evidence that the expansion of the universe is accelerating due to an unknown force that makes up 72 percent of the matter-energy content in the universe, according to NASA. It also discovered that virtually all major galaxies have black holes at their center. The first pictures from the new-and-improved Hubble are expected to be released as soon as September.

The STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope went safely, despite some delays.

Flight Commander Scott Altman and his crew were in orbit longer than planned, as NASA had to delay their landing due to thunderstorms. They were originally scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday. The weather still did not clear up so the landing site was switched to California’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

“This mission highlights what the challenges of spaceflight can bring out in human beings,” stated Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington in a press release. “This mission required the absolute best from the shuttle team, the Hubble science and repair teams, and the crew. The results are a tribute to the entire team and the years of preparation.”

The Atlantis will now be transported approximately 2,500 miles from California to Florida on the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet. Once it returns to its Florida home, the shuttle will be separated from the aircraft and work will begin to prepare it for its next flight, scheduled for November 2009.

NASA is planning three more missions this year. The next launch will be on June 12, when the Space Shuttle Endeavour will embark on a 16-day flight to deliver a new station crew member and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploratory Agency’s Kibo Laboratory.

During the STS-127 mission, astronauts will add a back porch to the Japanese module that will allow research to be done under direct exposure to space.
Joshua Philipp is an award-winning investigative reporter with The Epoch Times and host of EpochTV's "Crossroads" program. He is a recognized expert on unrestricted warfare, asymmetrical hybrid warfare, subversion, and historical perspectives on today’s issues. His 10-plus years of research and investigations on the Chinese Communist Party, subversion, and related topics give him unique insight into the global threat and political landscape.
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